Accreditation Handbook 2017 Edition - draft 2017.12.22

Accreditation Handbook January 2017 Edition

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052

Phone: 425/558-4224 Fax: 425/376-0596

First Edition 1965 Revised Editions 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2013, 2015, 2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD ..............................................................................................................................................................................vi

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 NWCCU Mission .......................................................................................................................................................1 Accreditation ............................................................................................................................................................1 Types of Accreditation ........................................................................................................................................1 Regional Accreditation ...................................................................................................................................1 National Accreditation....................................................................................................................................2 Specialized (Programmatic) Accreditation............................................................................................2 Overview of NWCCU Accreditation...............................................................................................................3 Relationship with the U.S. Department of Education.........................................................................3 Actions of State Agencies and Other Accrediting Bodies .................................................................4 Retention of Records............................................................................................................................................4 Institutional Commitment and Responsibilities ..................................................................................4

ACCREDITATION PROCEDURAL GUIDE ....................................................................................................................6

Eligibility for Accreditation......................................................................................................................................6

Pathway to Accreditation ..........................................................................................................................................6

Application for Consideration of Eligibility ....................................................................................................8 Submission ..................................................................................................................................................................8 Commission Evaluation Procedures.................................................................................................................8 Commission Actions ................................................................................................................................................8 Voluntary Withdrawal of Application ..............................................................................................................9 Reapplication .............................................................................................................................................................. 9

Candidacy ...........................................................................................................................................................................9 Self Evaluation ..........................................................................................................................................................9 Peer Evaluation ........................................................................................................................................................9 Commission Evaluation Procedures .............................................................................................................. 10 Commission Actions ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Granting of Candidacy.................................................................................................................................. 11 Continuation of Candidacy ......................................................................................................................... 11 Granting of Accreditation ........................................................................................................................... 12 Terms of Agreement ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Voluntary Withdrawal from Candidacy........................................................................................................ 13 Loss of Candidacy Status..................................................................................................................................... 13 Appealable Actions................................................................................................................................................ 13 Reapplication........................................................................................................................................................... 13

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

Accreditation ................................................................................................................................................................. 14

Overview of the Seven-Year Accreditation Cycle ..................................................................................... 14 Institutional Self Evaluation .............................................................................................................................. 14

Mission and Core Themes .......................................................................................................................... 14 Mid-Cycle........................................................................................................................................................... 14 Mission Fulfillment ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Commission Evaluation Procedures .............................................................................................................. 15 Commission Actions ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Terms of Agreement ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Voluntary Withdrawal from Accreditation ................................................................................................. 16 Loss of Accreditation ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Appealable Actions................................................................................................................................................ 16 Reapplication........................................................................................................................................................... 17

Non-U.S.-Based Institutions................................................................................................................................... 17

DUES AND FEES .................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Dues............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Fees.............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Billing.......................................................................................................................................................................... 17

ACCREDITATION CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................................... 18

Eligibility Requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 19

Standards for Accreditation.................................................................................................................................. 22 Design and Function ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Structure ................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Standard One ? Mission and Core Themes............................................................................................ 22 1.A ? Mission .................................................................................................................................................... 22 1.B ? Core Themes ......................................................................................................................................... 23

Standard Two ? Resources and Capacity ............................................................................................... 23 2.A ? Governance............................................................................................................................................ 23 2.B ? Human Resources............................................................................................................................... 26 2.C ? Education Resources ......................................................................................................................... 27 2.D ? Student Support Resources ............................................................................................................ 30 2.E ? Library and Information Resources ............................................................................................ 32 2.F ? Financial Resources ........................................................................................................................... 32 2.G ? Physical and Technological Infrastructure .............................................................................. 33

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

Standard Three ? Planning and Implementation.............................................................................. 34 3.A ? Institutional Planning ....................................................................................................................... 34 3.B ? Core Theme Planning ........................................................................................................................ 34

Standard Four ? Effectiveness and Improvement............................................................................. 35 4.A ? Assessment............................................................................................................................................ 35 4.B ? Improvement ....................................................................................................................................... 35

Standard Five ? Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and Adaptation .................................... 36 5.A ? Mission Fulfillment ............................................................................................................................ 36 5.B ? Adaptation and Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 36

NWCCU Policies .................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Accreditation Liaison Officer ................................................................................................................... 37 Accreditation of Non-U.S. Institutions.................................................................................................. 38 Annual Reports .............................................................................................................................................. 38 Appeals Policy and Procedure ................................................................................................................. 39 Collective Bargaining................................................................................................................................... 42 Commission Action Regarding Institutional Compliance Within Specified Period........... 42 Complaints Against NWCCU ..................................................................................................................... 42 Complaints Regarding Member or Candidate Institutions.......................................................... 43 Conflict of Interest ........................................................................................................................................ 45 Considerations When Closing an Accredited and Candidate Institution............................... 47 Contractual Relationships with Organizations Not Regionally Accredited .......................... 50 Correspondence Education....................................................................................................................... 54 Credit Hour ...................................................................................................................................................... 55 Distance Education....................................................................................................................................... 56 Institutional Advertising, Student Recruitment, and Representation of Accredited Status .............................................................................................................................. 57 Institutional Response to an Onsite Evaluation Report................................................................ 60 Notification to the U.S. Department of Education ........................................................................... 60 Public Disclosure of Information Regarding Type of Accreditation Granted, Criteria, Accreditation Procedures, Evaluation Schedule, and Commissioners and Commission Staff............................................................................................................................... 61 Public Notification About Affiliated Institutions.............................................................................. 62 Public Notification and Third Party Comments Regarding Mid-Cycle and Mission Fulfillment Evaluations ................................................................................................. 65 Record of Student Complaints ................................................................................................................. 67 Representation of Academic and Administrative Personnel on All Decision-Making Bodies................................................................................................................. 67 Responsibilities for Title IV Oversight ................................................................................................. 67 Retention of Records ................................................................................................................................... 67 Review of Accreditation Criteria ............................................................................................................ 68 Selection and Representation of Commissioner and of Evaluation Committees ............... 69 Significant Growth ........................................................................................................................................ 70 Student Verification ..................................................................................................................................... 70 Substantive Change...................................................................................................................................... 71

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Substantive Change Form.......................................................................................................................... 79 Teach-Out Plans and Teach-Out Agreements ................................................................................... 80 Training of New Commissioners ............................................................................................................ 81 Transfer and Award of Academic Credit ............................................................................................. 81 Glossary.................................................................................................................................................................................... 85 Index .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 97

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FOREWORD This Accreditation Handbook, 2015 Edition presents a composite of information about the evaluation and accreditation of higher education institutions by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. It includes:

1. General information about accreditation, its nature, purposes, and the agencies involved; 2. Procedural Guide for Applicant, Candidate, and Accredited institutions--including guidance

for non-U.S. based institutions; 3. Accreditation criteria (Eligibility Requirements and Standards for Accreditation); 4. Policies for the Commission and affiliated institutions; and 5. Glossary of terminology used in this Handbook. A complimentary printed copy of the current Accreditation Handbook is provided to both the chief executive officer and the Accreditation Liaison Officer of Accredited, Candidate, and Applicant institutions. Additional printed copies may be purchased from the Commission office. Institutions are advised to consult the Commission's website () for the most current information, including fees, timelines, and specific guidelines for preparation of reports. The Handbook is also available free of charge in electronic form on the "Publications" section of the Commission's website.

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INTRODUCTION

NWCCU Mission

The mission of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is to assure educational quality, enhance institutional effectiveness, and foster continuous improvement of colleges and universities in the Northwest region through in-depth institutional self assessment and critical peer review based upon evaluation criteria that are objectively and equitably applied to institutions with diverse missions, characteristics, and cultures.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a process of recognizing educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. Granting of Accreditation status is public recognition that an institution or program meets the accrediting agency's established requirements. This recognition is extended largely through non-governmental, voluntary, institutional, or professional associations, which have responsibility for establishing criteria and evaluating institutions and programs with respect to those criteria.

As practiced in the United States, accrediting agencies fulfill their purposes through a collegial process of institutional self assessment and critical peer review based upon criteria established by the accrediting agencies, approved by their members, and recognized by stakeholders as indicators of educational quality and effectiveness.

Types of Accreditation

There are three primary types of accreditation: regional, national, and specialized. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is a regional accrediting agency. An institution may not be accredited by more than one regional accrediting agency. It may, however, be accredited by a regional accrediting agency and a national accrediting agency and/or have one or more of its academic programs accredited by specialized accrediting agencies.

Regional Accreditation

In the United States, regional accreditation of institutions of higher education is granted by one of seven regional accrediting agencies that operate within a scope of authority approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional accreditation applies to an institution as a whole, not individual programs or units within the institution. Because the accreditation status of an institution is reviewed periodically, institutions are engaged in continuous self reflection and improvement.

Regional accreditation agencies perform a number of important functions, including fostering quality education and continuous improvement, and encouraging institutional efforts toward maximum educational effectiveness. The accrediting process requires institutions to examine their own missions, operations, and achievements. It then provides expert analysis by peer evaluators, which may include commendations for accomplishments as well as recommendations for improvement.

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